Project Questions:
Question 1 (750 words)
The selected oral history transcripts indicate a great deal of continuity over this period in women's work patterns and experiences. While some may have held jobs at some point, it seems that there was a trend in giving up those positions in order to support their husbands in their careers and in family life once they got married. These roles were constantly changing throughout the years, as World War I and II came and went women seem to have taken on a bigger responsibility in the workplace, though after they ended their roles largely remained as they had been previously. Women's roles during this period were therefore somewhat complex due to this. While there was slow and steady progress towards changes in their roles, they can be seen to have remained largely the same throughout this period (Brown).
The earliest interview presents a much more traditional and modest role for the mother in their household than the others. The interviewee born in 1900 (Q1) indicates that their mother never held a job, but rather supported her brothers who, like the interviewee's father, worked in mines throughout most of their childhood. Before she was married she took care of her brothers while they worked in the mines. After marriage, she both supported her husband in his work and took care of the children and the housework. This seems to indicate that, early on in the twentieth century, women's roles were primarily dependent upon the male's activities in the household. Their roles were often reflective of those of their mother's and the skills that they were given by them. The interviewee would join the service when she became an adult, making low wages and prompting her to move on to other positions. During World War II she worked at various labor positions, although wages remained low. At this point, it seems that the type of work that she was doing, for a time, became similar to that of men. She would ultimately stop working once she was married. This will be seen as a source of continuation throughout the next half-century in regards to her role.
The oral transcripts indicate that, even half a decade later there had been little change in regards to women's roles. These still remained small in regards to the pursuit of careers and largely orientated towards the home and family environment. The interviewee born in 1907 (HI) indicates that their mother, before getting married, worked looking after children. After marriage, however, the woman did not work at all, even in part time positions. This was likely very different than the level of wages that were provided to the male workers at the time. While she maintained work while she was younger, after getting married she indicates that she, like her mother, would never work again. This indicates a strong connection with her mother and many of the other women that were interviewed and their mother's experiences. To this extent, the transcripts indicate a strong level of continuity in regards to the work patterns and experiences of the women that were interviewed.
This continuation can be seen a decade later as the next interview indicates similar experiences in regards to their memories of their mother and her roles in both the household and beyond. One interviewee, born in 1913 (W1), indicates that their mother never really had a job to speak of after marriage other than, at some point, perhaps washing some clothes. Before this, she had apparently been a weaver who worked at a carpet mill. This seems to indicate that at this time women did hold jobs in society. However, it is also evident that upon marriage the prospects for continuation in the field must have diminished. Like her own mother, she would likely play a role in which she would take care of children and the home. This is a very different work experience than that of the men of the time. The daughter being interviewed similarly found a job upon graduation working for the post office. She did not get very many hours and, likely, had lower wages, though she does not remember the particular amount. After marriage, she did not work any full-time jobs, but indicates that she held various part-time positions, such as working in a butcher shop. This indicates that there beginning to be a slow change in regards to women's roles during this period, however, there was also a great deal of continuity in regards to how they were similar to their mothers.
Question 2 (750 words)
What do the selected oral history transcripts reveal about women’s leisure in Scotland in the period 1919-1939?
The activities that women took part in for leisure were very different from those of men. This is indicated by the transcripts, which demonstrate that these activities were often relegated to the household or community centers specifically for women. This level of association likely had a major impact on their capacity to take part in leisure activities. However, it is also evident that many of the interviewees had profound economic problems that they grew up in, making it difficult for anybody in the family to take part in leisure activities (Brown).
The transcript from 1900 (Q1) paints a fundamentally different portrait of women's leisurely activities at the time. While much of her mother's daily activities would often revolve around housework, such as washing, cleaning, and cooking, her leisurely time seems to have been spent doing things such as sewing. She indicates that she did not play with dolls very much and liked to take part in activities. It seems that during her childhood boys and girls would often play outside together with one another taking part in similar games and activities. She also went on a lot of walks with her father and siblings, indicating that she did a great deal of physical activities, similar to the men in her life. When she was older, it is indicated that she would go dancing with her coworkers for fun, indicating that the men and women likely took part in many of the same activities.
The transcript from 1907 (HI) indicates that she was, first of all, expected to do housework and chores before she could do anything else. She indicates that at the time it was necessary to make your own entertainment, as money was hard to come by. The girl herself would go to Sunday school although she indicates that her brothers would often not take part in such activities. This indicates that there were likely major differences between the activities of men and women during this time. As far as toys, she indicates that her and her sisters had dolls to play with though they had to keep everything picked up. Women's experiences of leisure seem to have been somewhat similar to those of men in many respects. There was not a lot of money so they would often do things together in order to pass the time. There were likely impediments to the level of access that women had to leisure activities, although the family as a whole did not seem to have the money to do much in regards to leisure. When she was older, before getting married, she indicates that she would spend a lot of time at the Girl's Club sewing and taking part in other such activities. This was likely an important source of social interaction for women at the time which would have been very different than the interactions that men had.
The transcript of the girl born 1913 (H1) indicates that she never had a lot that she was expected to do around the house. When she was young she would often go shopping and looking at homes with her mother. During her childhood, it seems that she never really got a lot of presents for either birthdays or Christmas. This was due to the fact that it was during the depression. Furthermore, her parents never really played a lot of games with her either. She did, however, read a lot of books and spent a lot of time at the library. She did got to Sunday School and took part in a great deal of family activities and day trips, although they never went on vacation. The transcript demonstrates that when she was young the boys and girls would play separately from one another. This was likely due to her strongly religious upbringing. This indicates that the boys and girls likely took part in fundamentally different activities when playing with one another. They would often got to the Picture House when they had the money. She indicates that people in the area and during that time didn't go out and do a lot at night. Instead many people simply walked. This seems to indicate that the men and women, as adults, would often take part in many similar activities. Women's experiences of leisure at this time would have been similar to those of men. While there were likely impediments to women's access to leisure, there were also larger impediments to leisure for people in general due to the economic issues of the time.
Works Cited
Brown, Callum. Scottish Women's Oral History Project. The Stirling Smith. 2007. Print.
